Book Review: In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Do you find that your mood or current life situation effects what books you read? I've definitely become more aware of this over the last few years. When I have a lot going on, I tend to go for books that are more light-hearted, easy, and entertaining. 

Thankfully, I got the opportunity to read a book that ticks all those boxes; the debut novel In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer, which is released this week through Pan Macmillan Australia.

This is a romantic comedy that is set, as the title suggests, in New York. It begins with a woman named Franny who is fired from her job, and whilst she is heading back home on the subway, complete with cardboard box filled with her personal belongings, her dress gets caught in the subway doors and rips all the way up. Franny is mortified that her dress now resembles a hospital gown and scrambles for something or someone to come to her rescue.

Enter businessman Hayes, who kindly gives her the suit jacket he is wearing. Franny is extremely grateful, and wants nothing more than to put the entire embarrassing episode behind her. However, unbeknownst to Franny and Hayes, a fellow commuter has captured the entire incident and shared the video across her social media platforms, dubbing the couple as the '#Subway QT's'.

The couple are given the opportunity to meet again, this time on live television after the clip starts going viral. Franny just wants the opportunity to thank Hayes again and put it all behind her, but it doesn't quite work out that way...

I thought that this book was a great read with a decent cast of characters, including Franny's two best friends, Cleo and Lola. The romance wasn't overdone, which is a win for me. I also enjoyed reading about all of the New York landmarks, foods, etc as it really helped set the scene and gave the story and extra layer of depth.

The story is told in alternating chapters from Franny and Hayes' perspectives, and I particularly liked Franny. I would recommend this novel for those looking for a fun and easy read, and for those who enjoy romantic comedies.

In A New York Minute is available through Pan Macmillan Australia, RRP $26.99

Book Review: This Is My Dad by Dimity Powell & Nicky Johnston

Families come in all different shapes and sizes. Some have two parents, and some don't. This Is My Dad came about after the author drew inspiration from teacher-librarians who noticed that there were a lack of stories reflecting children who have never known a father figure in their life. 

The story is about a young boy named Leo who loves Show and Tell at school, but when he finds out the latest topic - Tell Us About Your Dad Day, he is filled with concern. Leo has never met his father, so how can he celebrate along with his classmates? Leo doesn't have a courageous, smart or cool dad, or any dad at all. Or does he?

Leo lives with his mother, who is an author of children's books and spends her days (and some of her nights) using her imagination to come up with stories.  Is she the solution to Leo's dilemma?

This book acknowledges single parents and the important roles they play to their children. It celebrates families of every shape and size, and highlights the fact that whilst the presence of a male role model is helpful to a child's upbringing and well-being, it is not always possible or realistic, and there are many other carers that are equally as worthy of celebrating.

This Is My Dad is available now through EK Books, RRP $24.99, for readers 4-8 years old.

 Book Review & Giveaway: The Tricky Art Of Forgiveness by Meredith Jaffe

 

I have read a couple of Meredith's other novels, including The Fence (released in 2016) and The Dressmakers Of Yarrandarrah Prison (released last year) and I thought that they were both excellent books, so I was looking forward to reading her new novel, The Tricky Art Of Forgiveness. I recently got the opportunity to do so, with thanks to Harper Collins Australia, and they have generously given me an extra copy of the book to give away! Read on for how to enter!

Diana and Will Forsyth are approaching their 30th wedding anniversary, and also Will's 60th birthday. Diana is throwing a big party, and their two adult children, Aiden and Persephone, are flying in to celebrate the milestones, along with friends and family.

Diana and Will have recently downsized from their family home, and it is whilst Diana is unpacking their things that she discovers a torn piece of paper with the message 'I forgive you' written in Will's handwriting. Unsure what to make of it, Diana is left with a lot of questions about her husband, and she isn't entirely sure she wants to know all of the answers. But as the story continues, it becomes evident that Diana has her own secrets to hide.

The story reverts back and forth through time from the early days of their relationship to present day, and it deeply explores their marriage. The reader finds out that there have been a lot of highs and lows that have shaped their relaionship. 

The story explores what it means to forgive, how to let go of resentments, and how the choices we make impact the course of our lives. 

The Tricky Art Of Forgiveness is available now through Harper Collins Australia, RRP $32.99

*** GIVEAWAY ***

To win a copy of The Tricky Art Of Forgiveness, you must be a follower of either my blog, Instagram page or Facebook page (@Inthegoodbooksblog) and answer the following question:

 

Who is your favourite celebrity couple and why?

 

Winner will be chosen randomly from eligible entries on 10th March 2022, Australian residents only.

 Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose

 

 

 

I received a copy of this book months before its release date and I hadn't heard much about it, so I wasn't quite sure what expect. Well, I must say that from the first page, I was hooked! To say I loved this book would be an understatement! 

The main character is 25 year-old Molly, who works as a maid at The Regency Grand Hotel, which is a 5 star establishment.
Molly is socially awkward and interprets things differently to those around her. She was raised by her beloved grandmother who always made sense of things for Molly, but since her grandmother's recent passing, Molly now resides alone in a rundown apartment block. She has no friends and enjoys jigsaw puzzles and ice-cream. She also loves having everything spotless and in order.

Molly takes pride in her job as a maid, and thoroughly loves what she does, and whilst many of her co-workers think she is weird, there are thankfully some that like her, including the doorman, Mr Preston.

One day when Molly is on her rounds cleaning various hotel suites, she enters the room of an infamous guest named Mr Black, and makes the gruesome discovery of finding him dead in bed. Before she can make sense of things, Molly is targeted as the prime suspect of the crime!

Molly needs to find a way out of this mess, but isn't sure who can she turn to. Who can she trust to help her? You will have to read it and see.

The Maid is a spectacular debut novel; highly engrossing and entertaining, and I adored Molly so much. Her 'voice' makes the story what it is, and I was cheering for her all the way and wanted to give her a cuddle so many times throughout the story. I highly recommend The Maid (and I was also thrilled to discover that this will be adapted to a movie as I look forward to seeing how the two compare).  

The Maid is available from Harper Collins Australia, RRP $29.99

Book Review: The Islands by Emily Brugman

I was recently given the opportunity to read The Islands with thanks to Allen & Unwin. This was a different style of story to what I have read lately, and it was told very well and with a lot of heart. The author has researched the topic of migration in detail, and has drawn on her family's own personal experience which added another level of depth.

The story begins on the coastline of Western Australia where Finnish migrants Onni and Alva Saari, along with their baby daughter Hilda, set up camp on a tiny island known as Little Rat to begin their lives as a fishing family, in particular, fishing for crays. It is the mid 1950's and the decision to migrate is made once Onni receives some sad news about his brother Nalle. It isn't long before Onni is hooked in by the exquisite landscape. As the story unfolds, it spans over the years, and we learn about each of these three characters more.

Onni is an ambitious young man who aims to provide for his family. He works hard and wants to make a great future for his wife and daughter.

Alva is a quiet yet determined woman who has had to deal with her share of tragedy from a young age. She struggles to fit in and make friends as she has a hard time of communicating with people in English.

As Hilda grows into a young woman, she learns about life near the coast, and dreams of becoming the skipper of her own fishing boat. She can be complicated at times, but it is all part of growing up.

Together, they face many struggles but they do their best to make things work. Like the other families that have migrated there, they slowly adapt to their new life and eventually make friends within the community.

The book is told in two parts, first, when the family is in the West and then when they travel back to the East where Onni gets a labouring job in the Australian Capital Territory.

It reverts back and forth through time and I felt that it may have benefited from a date being included at the start of each timeline change, or some sort of indicator that the story had shifted in time as it confused me (briefly) on more than one occasion. 

Whilst this story is fictional, it captures the real story of the migratory path that Finnish people took (including the author's grandfather). It was interesting to learn about their journey, as I wasn't aware of it prior to reading this book. 

The Islands is available through Allen & Unwin, RRP $29.99

The Happiness Trap (2nd edition) by Dr Russ Harris

 

 

 

 

The first edition of The Happiness Trap sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into more than 30 different languages. In this new updated and expanded edition, there are many tips and lots of useful information for anyone who may be suffering with anxiety and depression, battling an illness, coping with grief or loss, or being in a high-stress situation, including at work.

Dr Russ Harris is a medical practitioner, psychotherapist, and bestselling author, and he uses the scientifically-proven model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (a practice which is now recommended by the World Health Organisation). 

I, like so many others, have anxiety, and over the years, I have tried many things to help. I am now able to manage it a lot better, but am always on the lookout to educate myself further and to find ways that may help even more. It sometimes isn't easy, especially when you are not used to making time for yourself or putting yourself first, but it is achievable. Books such as this one can be helpful for those people like myself who want to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

In The Happiness Trap Dr Harris explains that when we want to increase our happiness, we often try hard to avoid or eliminate unwanted thoughts, but by putting in the effort to do so, it has an adverse reaction and leads to creating more difficult thoughts and feelings. He explains how to deal with 'emotional storms' by noticing and naming our feeling and thought processes. 

Dr Harris also explains how we tend to get hooked on negative thoughts and emotions, and implements strategies to help with it so that we respond to those negative things differently. He also points out ways that our emotions help us and serve three main purposes - communication, illumination and motivation. 

The topic of mindfulness is also explored and explained, and there are tips on being more present in our day-to-day lives (this is something that I need to work on). 

Books like this one offer hope and encouragement, and if you put in the time to follow the techniques, it can really be beneficial.

The format of this book is easy to follow, and it is set out in 30 chapters. It can be read from cover to cover, or you could even break it down and read it over time and refer back to it as needed. 

The Happiness Trap is available through Exisle Publishing, RRP $34.99

 

 

 

 

 Children's Picture Book Reviews: Toy Mountain and Cookie 

 

 

 Toy Mountain and Cookie are recent releases from EK Books, a publisher which produces picture books that have meaningful messages and important topics.

Toy Mountain features a boy named Sam, who wishes that he had some new and exciting toys to play with. When he is given the opportunity to be a toy tester and receive the latest toys on the market, Sam is thrilled! 

However, it isn't long until he realises that it may not be necessary to own so many toys after all when his beloved old toys get buried under a mountain of new ones. 

This book teaches children about sustainability and the importance of protecting the environment and using only what we need, not want.

 

Cookie is a story written by Isabelle Duff when she was 18 years old, and is inspired by her border collie Saffy.

Cookie and Girl have an unbreakable bond and bring joy to each other's lives. Even when Girl feels sad, she knows that she can depend on Cookie to cheer her up. He brings light to her dark days and cheers her up with his antics.

This is lovely story that touches on the importance of pet ownership and the love that a pet provides.

Both books are available now through EK Books.